Steam generator and intake for internal-combustion engines.



J. .l. RlLEY.

STEAM GENERATOR AND INTAKE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATTON FILED MAY 17. 1915.

LTfiQfiUY, Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

@l/ @f/ I 45 1 Suva/14 C040 l l ll l t i JOSEPH J. RILEY, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM .R. JBYAJRS, or SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

STEAM GENERATOR AND INTAKE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. t. T915. 7

Application filed May 17, 1915. Serial m. 28,650.

To all whom it may concern: 7 Be it known that l[, JOSEPH J. RILEY, a

citizen of the United States, residing at San;

Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Steam Generators and Intakes for lnternal Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a steam generator and intake for internal combustlon engines and it has for .its object the provisionof means, preferably heated by the exhaust of the engine and arranged to supply steam to the intake manifold for the purpose of assisting vaporization and combustion and preventing the formation of carbon in the engine cylinder.

Further objects and advantages of the in vention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows.

Tn the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 I is a side elevation of an engine having the invention applied thereto. Fig 2 IS an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the steam generator, and, Fig. 3 is an end .trtl

elevation of said generatorwith the exhaust pipe in section. I

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, 5 designates the cylinders, 6 the crank case, 7 the radiator, 8 the exhaust pipe, 9 the intake manifold and 10 the carbureter of an internal combustion engine. These parts areof the usual and Well known construction. In carrying out the invention, ll mount upon the exhaust pipe a steam generator casing 11, the lower portion of which is bifurcated to straddle the exhaust pipe and provided with depending ears 12 through which bolts 13 are passed for the purpose of securing the generator upon the exhaust pipe. It is apparent that by virtue of this construction, the generator may be mounted at any desired point in the length of the exhaust pipe and since the exhaust pipe is hotter at some points than at others, this provides means for mounting the generator at the point .where it will most efliciently serve the pursteam taken in with pivotedat l8 and carries a float 19. This float serves to maintain a predetermined level of water within the generator casing 11. An air supply pipe 20 open to the atmosphereat 21 is carried downwardly with 1n the casing 11 and provided with a coil 22 wh ch l1es below the level of the water. This pipe terminates at 23 within the steam' space 24: of the generator. A steam pipe 25 leads from the generator and enters the manifold at 26. A valve 27, operable by a link 28, controls the passage of steam to the manlfold. The link 28 is connected to the operating lever 29 which operates the throttle 30 of the carbureter; consequently, the

tion to the supply of gas. .Link 28 may comprise within its length aturn-buckle 31,

the adjustment of which varies the proper tlon of steam'anol gas.

Operation: When the engine is running and suctlon is created in the intake manifold, steam will be drawn into the. intakemanifold from the steam generator. .11 through pipe 25. Itis Well known that the charge in this manner aids combustion and prevents the for- ;mation of carbon. Furthermore the heat of the steam aids in vaporizing the. carbureted charge. The provision of the air supply pipe 20 permits the necessary circulation and provides when the engine is standing still a relief port which prevents the accumulation of excessive pressure in the gener ator casing 11. By thus establishing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the casing, the pressure within the casing is prevented from exceeding atmospheric pressure and consequently the steam that enters the intake manifold will be drawn in by suction instead of being forced in by, pressure. It is apparent that if such provision were not made and any pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure in the steam generator casing it would be very diiiicult to control the passage of steam to the manifold because there would constantly be the danger that such an excessive amount of steam would be forced into the manifold as to unduly dilute the charge of fuel and thereby render it non-explosive. The provision of the coil 22 disposed beneath the surface of the water insures the proper heatin of the air as it comes into the easing. t is-apparent that the proper level of the-water will be maintained in casing 11 through pipe 14 and its associated parts.

While the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes for which they are intended, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but includes within its purview such changes as may be made within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is g 1. 'In a device of the character described, the combination with an internal combustion engine and its associated radiator, of a steam generator casing, means for conducting water to said steam generator casing from said radiator, means for maintaining a predetermined level of water within said steam generator casing, means for conducting steam from said steam generator casing to the intake manifold and means for conducting air at atmospheric pressure to the steam space of said generator.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with an internal combustion engine and its associated radiator, of a steam generator casing, means for conducting water to said steam generator cas ng.

from said radiator, means for maintaining a predetermined level of water within said steam generator casing, means for conducting steam from said steam generator casing to the intake manifold and an air supply pipe leading from the atmosphere to the steam space within the generator and passing beneath the surface of the water therein.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with an internal combustion engine and its associated radiator, of a steam generator casing, means for conducting water to said steam generator casing from said radiator, means for maintaining a predetermined level of water within said steam generator casing, means'for conducting steam from said steam generator casing to theintake manifold, and an air supply pipe leading from the atmosphere to the steam space within the generator and comprising within its length a coil submerged within the water within said generator.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with an internal combustion engine, of a steam generator casing mounted upon the exhaust pipe of said engine, a steam pipe leading from the steam generatorcasing to the intake manifold of the engine, an air supply pipe leading from the atmosphere to the steam space within the steam generator casing, said air supply pipe comprising within its length a coil whi h is submerged in the water within said steam generator casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH J. RILEY.

Witnesses:

J,. C. HIZAR, J. L. HIZAR. 

